Leuven MindGate's Mega MashUp 2024
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- Members of Leuven MindGate: € 0
- Residents of the Hubs4Growth community (Hangar K, Winter Circus, Limburg Startup, The Beacon): € 0
- Non-members: € 102 (excl. VAT)
A no-show fee of €50 applies (see below for details)
By now, almost every professional in the Leuven Innovation Region knows the concept of the Leuven MindGate MashUps: bringing small groups of professionals together in a casual atmosphere, and learning together from each other's experiences on very focused topics. Or as we call it: a MashUp is a conversation, not a presentation.
At the Mega MashUp, we organize 12 MashUps in one morning, to serve our Leuven professionals in a time-efficient and very focused way. These MashUps are part of the Hubs4Growth TechXperience sessions.
Spread over 2 time slots, you can follow 1 or 2 MashUp. We also provide networking opportunities in between and afterwards. If you want to work when not following a MashUp, you can do so in a separate workspace.
We allow max. 15 people per MashUp - 1 participant per company per session.
Programme
- 08h30 - 09h15 : Welcome with breakfast
- 09h15 - 10h45 : MashUps session 1
- 10h45 - 11h15 : Coffee break
- 11h15 - 12h45 : MashUps session 2
- 12h45 - 14h00 : Lunch Reception
Everyone who has attended at least 1 MashUp, may attend the free Lunch Reception from 12h45 onwards.
You will be able to work in our dedicated workspace at the Faculty Club premises in-between MashUps, if you wish to do so.
Pick your MashUp in timeslot 1 (9h15 > 10h45)
How to navigate thanks to change: resilience as a survival skill
After three years of in-depth research and an ongoing partnership with AMS, Acerta Consult has gained valuable insights on the survival skills 'adaptability' and 'resilience' - important in our constantly changing world.
In this MashUp, we share the latest findings and show you how to effectively apply this knowledge within your organization.
Discover practical strategies and tools that help you support employees in this and stay flexible and thrive as an organization in a dynamic environment.
Expert in the room:
- Hannelore Van Meldert, Director Talent Acquisition & Orientation - Acerta Consult
- 09h15 > 10h45
How to boost 'customer experience' using AI?
Artificial Intelligence is the game-changing technology of this decade, revolutionizing every industry and the economy as a whole. For Customer Experience (CX), technologies like Generative AI (GenAI) are transforming the ways we can interact with our customers.
GenAI not only supercharges content creation and moderation but also helps us uncover valuable insights from vast amounts of unstructured data. Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore how AI enables us to rethink the classic paradigms for information management, delivery & discovery. In that regard, the rapid rise of AI brings not only great opportunities but also significant challenges.
Therefore, we will also talk about the steps you can take with your organization to optimize content management and governance, making sure you are able to benefit from this technological evolution.
Expert in the room:
- Jan Lemmens, Solution Manager CXM – AmeXio Group
- 09h15 > 10h45
How does a bank look at my loan request?
Discover the intricacies of how bankers evaluate loan requests and what it takes to secure funding for your start-up or scale-up.
We start by covering the business model of a bank, explaining how banks operate, minimize risks, and seek ancillary business opportunities. Learn the importance of having a skilled founding team with relevant degrees and experience. Find out how to clearly explain your product's unique selling proposition and commercial success. Explore the expectations for founders to invest their own money or raise capital with investors. Discover why cashflow is crucial for loan repayment and how past profitability can predict future success. And why you as founder should know your numbers. Learn about the types of guarantees banks may require to minimize risks.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and tips on securing bank loans for your start-up.
Expert in the room:
- Thomas Smet, Relationship Manager Innovation Banking - KBC Bank
- 09h15 > 10h45
How to set your priorities? - Diary from a CEO
Part 1 of 2: Internal activities (HR, Communication, Development, Production, Company Organization)
The best pilots stands on the shore. All with valuable advice. The sum of all that advice is a list of 1,000 priorities. That doesn't work.
The priorities for the entrepreneur/company/department are strongly related to the stage his company is in. XenomatiX has walked the path from 'this could be a good idea' to the phase of 'buy & build scale-up'. From that context, we will analyze together what is really important at each stage of the company.
In this Mashup - which is exceptionally split into two separate parts, one before the break and one after the break - we discuss CEO priorities. We look at different aspects of organization, HR, finance, sales, marketing, development, production (and 500 more to do's), looking for a nuanced view on business priorities. Part 1 of 2 focuses on internal activities, part 2 of 2 focuses on external activities.
The session is not aimed at CEOs but at anyone who feels involved in setting, influencing or executing strategy and likes to think broader than their own department. We're not trying to take a sector-specific approach to this, but it is based on an innovative technology case. You have the choice to follow both parts or only 1 of the 2 parts. Only the intro and some golden rules of thumb recur in both parts.
Expert in the room:
- Filip Geuens, CEO - Xenomatix
- 09h15 > 10h45
How to avoid being fined for GDPR breaches in 2025?
With the landscape of data protection constantly evolving, staying compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has never been more critical. After a long period of lenience, data protection authorities seem to be waking up and hitting (too) hard. What are the pitfalls that organizations should avoid to prevent fines? Are data protection authorities going too far and imposing excessive demands on Belgian businesses, to the detriment of consumers and competitiveness?
Join us for an insightful discussion as we delve into recent decisions by the Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) and provide key takeaways for organizations in 2025. With increasing scrutiny and significant fines for non-compliance, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve. We will explore interesting decisions from 2024, highlight common pitfalls and arm you with best practices.
Experts in the room:
- Loïc Delanghe, Lawyer - Senior Managing Associate in IP, IT & Data Protection at PwC Legal
- Isha Upadhyaya, Lawyer - Senior Associate in IP, IT & Data Protection at PwC Legal
- 09h15 > 10h45
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Experts in the room:
- Peter Verbiest, Strategic Director - Hotel Bonka
- xxx
- 09h15 > 10h45
Pick your MashUp in timeslot 2 (11h15 > 12h45)
How to achieve the seemingly unachievable?
Goal achievement in any organisation involves a familiar process of definition, preparation, execution, celebration and constructive review. What remains is the grey area of unknown and often unexpected challenges that threaten to distract us from our eventual success, a murky zone that requires a nimble pivot.
Julie Brown shares vividly honest anecdotes about seemingly unattainable goal achievement in various facets of her professional and personal experiences, including her more than 27 years in the management of polar expeditions together with the late Dixie Dansercoer.
She exposes proven strategies such as physical and mental preparation, focus, effective communication, and delegating with trust. Her stories are filled with tips and tricks that translate seamlessly to any project, any team, and particularly any business leader looking to raise the achievement bar.
Expert in the room:
- Julie Brown, Founding Partner - Polar Circles
- 11h15 > 12h45
How to navigate your scale-up with confidence against the wind?
For the fifth year in a row, Deloitte’s Scale Up Confidence Pulse revealed the main challenges facing Belgian scale-ups: e.g.
- Due to the economically turbulent climate, Belgian scale-ups experienced more frequent cash flow, liquidity and funding problems in the past year.
- For the first time, increasing regulation is mentioned in the top ten challenges faced by scale-ups.
- Confidence among scale-ups in their growth trajectory has dropped slightly compared to last year, but the overall confidence level remains high.
- …
Anouk Moons will provide insights on key financial drivers and practical ways to monitor cash in times when investors scrutinize your financials and valuations are under pressure. Kristof Cox will give you practical tips on how to navigate the legal tsunami and how to close deals and contracts with big corporates and multinationals on the other side of the table”
Experts in the room:
- Anouk Moons, Manager accountancy - Deloitte Private
- Kristof Cox, Partner - Deloitte Legal Services for Start-up, Scale-up and SME
- 11h15 > 12h45
How to leverage digitization into operational efficiencies and minimize safety risks?
In any operational or production environment organizations feel a constant strive towards saving costs and working more efficient, and to do this without losing sight on safety and security.
Digitization and automation are then often key avenues to achieve those goals, with buzz words like digital twins, augmented reality and others.
In this MashUp, we try to step away from the marketing lingo around such initiative. We want to dismantle how such a digital environment can be built and improve operations. We will use the example of BASF Antwerp and welcome a discussion.
Expert in the room:
- Dennis De Smedt, Head of Luciad Services - Hexagon
- 11h15 > 12h45
How to grow your B2B sales?
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Expert in the room:
- Bart Vanhaeren, CEO - Investsuite
- 11h15 > 12h45
How to make your innovation become a commercial success?
Lessons from the life sciences industry
On the road of turning your technological invention into a best seller, there are many hurdles to take and one of those is closely linked with your business strategy. This session will inspire a conversation on everything but not your technology. We will discuss failures and success stories, exchange challenges, explore the reality that one size fits all does not exist and embrace the reality of building a sustainable business in a global and digital world requires a ton of skills beyond the ability to make breakthrough products or offer one of a kind services.
Focused on a background in Life Sciences this session is an exchange of information on crucial steps in the development of a commercially viable business. Entrepreneurs from MedTech, Invitro Diagnostics, Pharma, Biotech, ATMP development and Life Science Academia will find a session crafted to inspire the next phase of your ideation. Discussions on product life cycle, persona development, health care ecosystems, regulatory challenges, funding needs, communication must do’s and don’ts will have a place in this Mashup session.
Expert in the room:
- Steven Van Hove, Senior Commercialization Consultant and Business Strategist - QbD Group
- 11h15 > 12h45
How to set your priorities? - Diary from a CEO
Part 2 of 2: External activities (Sales, Marketing, Financing, Recruitment, Director's Board)
The best pilots stands on the shore. All with valuable advice. The sum of all that advice is a list of 1,000 priorities. That doesn't work.The priorities for the entrepreneur/company/department are strongly related to the stage his company is in. XenomatiX has walked the path from 'this could be a good idea' to the phase of 'buy & build scale-up'. From that context, we will analyze together what is really important at each stage of the company.
In this Mashup - which is exceptionally split into two separate parts, one before the break and one after the break - we discuss CEO priorities. We look at different aspects of organization, HR, finance, sales, marketing, development, production (and 500 more to do's), looking for a nuanced view on business priorities. Part 1 of 2 focuses on internal activities, part 2 of 2 focuses on external activities.
The session is not aimed at CEOs but at anyone who feels involved in setting, influencing or executing strategy and likes to think broader than their own department. We're not trying to take a sector-specific approach to this, but it is based on an innovative technology case. You have the choice to follow both parts or only 1 of the 2 parts. Only the intro and some golden rules of thumb recur in both parts.
Expert in the room:
- Filip Geuens, CEO - Xenomatix
- 11h15 > 12h45
No-Show? Cancellation or replacement is possible if notified by email at least 48h in advance (admin@leuvenmindgate.be). If you do not show up after registration, we will charge a no-show fee of €50. If a colleague replaces you, the no-show fee does not apply. All proceeds from this fee will be donated to a local charity.
This event is supported by
Organiser
The MashUps will be in English. However, if everyone in the room speaks Dutch, we will switch to Dutch.
No-Show? Cancellation or replacement is possible if notified by email at least 48h in advance (admin@leuvenmindgate.be). If you do not show up after registration, we will charge a no-show fee of €50. If a colleague replaces you, the no-show fee does not apply. All proceeds from this fee will be donated to a local charity.
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How can we help?
The Leuven MindGate team is at your disposal for any questions about the Leuven Innovation Region. Do you want to invest, work or study in the region? We can help you find your way.
We also facilitate collaboration and innovation between companies, knowledge institutes and government within the Leuven Innovation Region, and we are happy to guide any of these stakeholders towards innovation.